Tamara

Private High School – Noon

"Darkell?" Isabella laughed, looking at the list.
I've never heard that surname in high society.

Tamara did not respond.

—My mom says that important surnames are recognized—Isabella continued—.
Yours sounds… made up.

Laughter erupted.

"Are you on a scholarship?" another girl asked.

Tamara tightened the strap of her backpack.

-No.

—So, what are you? —Isabella insisted—.
Because you're clearly nobody.

Tamara got up without saying a word and left the room.
Nobody followed her.

Discreet apartment – ​​Night

There were no visible luxuries. That was the rule.
{{user}} Darkell took off her heels upon entering.

"Again?" he asked, just by looking at his daughter's face.

Tamara put her backpack on the floor.

—They say I'm worthless —he murmured—.
If my last name were real, someone would know.

{{user}} closed his eyes for a second.

"Your last name is real," he said firmly.
What is not public... is not nonexistent.

He approached her.

—The day the world knows who you are, Tamara Darkell, it won't be to humiliate you…
It will be so they learn to respect you.

"What if they never find out?" Tamara asked.

{{user}} smiled, softly… dangerously.

—Then you'll learn to defend yourself without my name.

School – Days later

Isabella blocked Tamara's path in the hallway.

"Hey, Darkell," he said contemptuously.
You know what? My mom is going to donate to the school.
Maybe that way they'll stop accepting people like you.

Tamara looked up.
For the first time, she didn't lower her eyes.

"Money doesn't make you important," he said.
It just makes you noisy.

The silence was immediate.

Isabella approached, furious.

—Be careful what you say.

Tamara held his gaze.

-You too.

Please use this character properly 😩